Heriberto "Eddie" Ramirez, a 38-year-old Hispanic/Latino man, was a well-known and respected member of the Tyler, Texas community. He worked at Junior's Taqueria, a restaurant owned by his brother that had been a local staple for nearly two decades. Customers remembered him fondly, and his death prompted an outpouring of support for his family.
On the afternoon of October 11, 2024, an argument broke out inside the taqueria between Ramirez and a regular customer, 54-year-old Scotty Lee
Goble. Sources reported the dispute was over an order. The argument escalated and moved outside into the parking lot, where it became a physical confrontation. During the fight, Goble drew a .45 caliber pistol and fired a single shot, striking Ramirez. Emergency services transported Ramirez to a local hospital, but he died from his injuries.
Police arrested Goble at the scene and charged him with first-degree murder. During interviews, Goble claimed he had acted in self-defense. He was at the restaurant with his two sons and infant daughter and told investigators he shot Ramirez because he felt threatened and feared for his and his baby's safety. However, police noted inconsistencies in his account. Goble initially claimed he was holding his daughter's car seat carrier when he was punched and fell, but later admitted he had set the carrier down. Witness statements, including one from his son, indicated that Goble was on the ground several feet away from Ramirez when he fired the weapon.
Goble was initially booked into the Smith County Jail on a $500,000 bond, which he posted. In April 2025, after a judge denied a request to lower a subsequent bond, he was released again after posting a $3 million bond. His trial was originally set for May 2025 but was pushed back to July of that year. In the days after the shooting, community members held memorials for Ramirez, leaving flowers at the restaurant in his honor. One longtime customer, Julie Lauer, remembered Eddie and hoped the family could heal from the horrible tragedy.
In September 2025, a jury in the 241st Judicial District Court found Scotty Lee Goble guilty of murder. He was sentenced to serve 18 years in a state prison.
